Clothes-line prop.



Jam, 15, 1918,

Patented 15. WOW.

CLOTHES LINE PROP,

APPLICATION FILED AUG.10.1917. 1 %5 35 $%6u 7 q V J S H w W. 0 7 5 5 I 6 4 i 1 1 1 M 1;! g 0 0 0/ \v 0 f Y Z if 9 ,0 J

ATTQRN EY ERNEST WOLD, 0F SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.

CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 191%.

Application filed August 10, 1917. Serial No. 185,610.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST WoLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Props, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to. an improved adjustable clothes line prop,'and has for its primary object to simplify and improve the construction and increase the convenience and utility of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable clothes prop with means whereby a positive engagement between the said prop and clothes line will be insured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is more fully understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the improvement.

Figf2 is a central transverse sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rectangular element provided with the outstanding ear that is secured to the inner end of the adjustable section of the prop.

As disclosed by the drawings, the prop comprises a lower or stationary section 1 and an upper or adjustable section 2. The section 1 is of a materially greater width than that of the section 2, and is pointed upon one of its ends as at 3, and the said pointed end may be provided with a protective sheathing 4. Thepointed end is, of course, adapted to be inserted in the ground, and the said section 1, from its opposite end is provided with a centrally disposed slot or opening 5, which terminates only a short distance beyond the pointed end 3 of the said section 1. The arms 6, provided by the slot or opening 5, at the outer ends thereof, are connected by a bail or strap 7, whereby the said arms are retained in proper spaced relation to each other. One or both of the arms, upon .one or both of the faces of the member 1, is provided with a plurality of indicating marks 8, and the inner faces of one of the arms, in alinement with the transversely arranged marks 8 is formed with.

spaces sockets 9. The upper member 2, has its outer end slotted longitudinally as at 10, the inner faces of the, member 11-11 provided by the said slot, at the outer ends thereof, being beveled toward the outer sides or faces of the said members, whereby to provide a flaring entrance for the slot 10. The members l1-11 are normally forced toward each other by a spring 12 connectingthe said members 11, and disposed directly above the spring is a bolt 13 which passes through the said members 11. The bolt 13 serves as a protecting means for the spring 12, so that the clothes line 15, when arranged between the spring pressed members or arms 11 is held away from contact with the spring 12, and the adjustment of the nut 14: upon the bolt may limit the outward movement of the arms 11-11.

The member 2 is adapted to be received in the opening 5 of the member 1 and the inner end of the said member 2 is provided with laterally extending ears 16 which overlie the opposite faces of the arms 6 of the said member 1, the said ears, also being in the path of contact with the strap 7, limit the outer movement of the member 2 with respect to the member 1. The member 2, above the said ears 16., is provided with a depression entering from one of the sides thereof and opening to one of the edges thereof, providing a pocket 17.

The inner wall of the pocket is provided with a transverse opening in which is arranged a bolt-member 19, the outer end of the said bolt being rounded, and the inner end thereof being provided with an angular extension forming the same with a knob 20. The knob projects through the pocket a suitable distance to one side of the prop. The bolt is normally forced outward of the section 2 to engage with one of the depressions 9, and to retain the said section 2 adjusted with respect to the section 1, through the medium of a spring 18. The spring 18 comprises a two-arm member, the shorter arm of which contacting with the bolt, and the longer arm being received in a depression in one of the edges of the section 2, above the pocket 17. The pocket is closed by an angle plate 22 which, however, has its outer face provided with an opening through which the knob 20 passes. The plate 22,

opposite, the knob is provided with an outwardly extending portion 21 forming a finger piece and the operator engaging with the finger piece in the knob forcing the knob toward the said finger piece retracts the bolt 19 against the pressureof the spring 18, permitting the adjustment of the sections of the prop. The numeral 23 designates a spring hook arranged on the member 2, out- Wardof the finger piece 21 and the knob 20, and this hook may be employed for sliding the section 2 longitudinally of the section 1, when the said bolt is retracted, or the said hook may be also employed for'hang ing the prop from a suitable support. On one of the edges of the section 1, adjacent the outer end thereof, is arranged an eye member 24 and this eye may be employed as a suspending means when the prop is not in use.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A clothes line prop comprising a stationary member having a pointed end, and the said member being centrally slotted from near its said pointed end to its opposite end, a band surrounding the said member at its last mentioned end, one of the arms provided by the slot in the said member having its inner face provided with spaced alining sockets, a second member slidable in the slot of the first mentioned member, and having its inner end provided at its corners with outstanding ears overlying the arms of the first mentioned member, said second mentioned member having a pocket adjacent to the inner end thereof, a two-arm spring in the pocket, one of the arms of the said spring being secured to the said second mentioned member of the prop, a bolt passing through a transverse opening in the second mentioned member and contacted by the second arm of the spring to project the same to engagement with one of the sockets of the first mentioned member of the prop, said bolt having its inner end provided with anangular knob, a plate closing the pocket and having an opening through which the knob passes, a finger-piece on the plate opposite the knob, and a hook member onthe outer face of the plate.

2. In an adjustable clothes line prop, two members one provided with a central slot, the other arranged in the slot and slidable therethrough, the stationary member upon the inner wall provided by the slot having spaced sockets, the slidable member having a pocket, a two arm spring in the pocket and having one of its arms secured, a bolt passing through a transverse opening in the pocket, and engaged by the second arm of the spring to normally project the same in engagement with one of the referred to sockets in the stationary member, a'laterally extending handle for the bolt and a sta-' tionary n ger-piece arranged opposite the handle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNEST WOLD. 

